Cargill teams up with Mitsui to order two methanol dual-fuelled bulk carriers

US-based multinational firm Cargill has partnered with Japanese conglomerate Mitsui to order two methanol dual-fuelled bulk carriers.

PHOTO: A Kamsarmax bulk carrier built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding. Tsuneishi Group

The initial order is for two methanol dual-fuelled Kamsarmax bulk carriers, which are to be built by the Japan-based Tsuneishi Group. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025, and the second by early 2026.

Cargill Ocean Transportation president Jan Dieleman believes “shipping will need to move to zero carbon fuels to meet its decarbonization goals. Methanol offers one such pathway. It is the most technologically ready of the zero carbon options and we wanted to do something now to move the industry forward.”

Methanol has been gaining increasing attention as an alternative fuel choice among shipowners and operators to reduce emissions.

Classification society DNV’s data shows that the number of methanol-fuelled vessels in operation or on order has shot up by six from last year to 30 this year.

This number is projected to more than double in the next few years. 82 methanol-powered vessels are registered as in operation or on order towards 2028.

By Tuhin Roy

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